President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner, gives his State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Amid all of things that President Barack Obama said in the State of the Union address Tuesday night came this truth:

"The American people don't expect government to solve every problem. They don't expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue. But they do expect us to put the nation's interests before party. They do expect us to forge reasonable compromise where we can. For they know that America moves forward only when we do so together."

And amid all of the responses to Obama's speech came this truth from Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Sherwood:

"There needs to be action on the areas where both parties can find agreement. This won't be easy to do, but rarely are things that are worthwhile easy to do."

Both understand that to oppose an idea just because it came from an opponent does nothing for our nation. So, the president, his fellow Democrats and Republicans need to find common ground.

There's no better place to start than to end what Obama called "drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next" - Washington-made deadlines like the "fiscal cliff" and those that have come before and after it that truly cause uncertainty and are damaging to the nation's economy, for no other reason than all three sides' stubbornness in working with the others.

Immigration is another area in which there's promise of an agreement. It's not the most pressing issue the nation faces, but it's important - and it's a topic on which better trust can be developed between the parties.

Obama's proposal to create manufacturing hubs is interesting, particularly if one of those hubs is proposed for Wisconsin.

Other Obama ideas, we understand, will be more difficult to contend with. His call for universal preschool is noble, but lacks crucial details about both costs and how his vision connects with the current preschool structures on the federal, state and local levels.

The gap between the parties on issues like minimum wage and climate change remain wide, but small steps can come from a better understanding of each other's views.

And, in undoubtedly the most stirring moment of Obama's speech - calling for a vote on various forms of gun legislation - there's certainly an opportunity for common ground.

The point is, "reasonable compromise" must be sought - and it's a message for Obama as much as it is for each party in Congress.

The nation has to move forward. The only way is to find solutions to our problems together.

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Editorial: Common ground key to State of Union

Amid all of things that President Barack Obama said in the State of the Union address Tuesday night came this truth:

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